Shoe and outsole therefor



Jan. 5, 1943. J. GREGG 2,307,401

SHOE AND o uTsoLE THEREFOR Filed Jun 15, 1940- nventor G R E 36 zum.'

(Ittomeg Patented Jan. 5, 1943 2,307,401 SHOE AND OUTSOLE THEREFOR Jon Gregg, Flemington, N. J., assignor, by mesne lassigmnents, to Rope- Soles, Inc., New York,

Application June 15, 19m, Serial No. 340,636'

3 Claims.

This invention relates to footwear and more particularly to shoes, slippers, etc., having flat soles formed of bands of braided or plaited iibrous material.

One object of the invention is to provide an article of footwear of the designated class with an outsole formed of plaited fibrous material such, for example, as jute or any other suitable vegetable fibre in the form of a flat rope-like band disposed in the outsole with portions of the band adjacent each other in side by side relation and secured in said relation to form a unitary structure constituting said outsole.

It is also an object of the present invention to provide an outsole formed of a rope-like band of jute or suitable fibrous material having portions disposed in adjacent side by side relation and united with each other by interposed films, layers or coatings of latex or the like whereby to eliminate the necessity for stitching the several portions oi' the fibrous band in sole-defining relation.

Another object of the invention is the provision of an outsole formed of braided or plaited jute or the like in the form of a rope-like band having a fiat oval or oblong cross section whereby to provide the outsole with'a flat upper surface and also preferably with a flat Vlower or tread surface so that the shoe to which the outsole is secured can be worn with a maximum of comfort without the necessity for an insole or other inner covering other than a sock lining if desired.

A yet further object of' the invention is generally to provide an improved rope sole and articles of footwear of the designated class having outsoles of the type described. v

'I'he above objects of the invention and other objects ancillary thereto will be fully understood from the following description considered with reference to the accompanying drawing which, however, is to be considered as illustrative of the invention but not in limitation thereof.

In the drawing:

Fig. 1 is a side view of a shoe provided with an outsole embodying the present invention:

Fig. 2 is a sectional view on the line 2-2 of Fig. 1;

Fig. 3 is a side view of a shoe. such as a slipper, provided with an outsole embodying the present invention: e

Fig. 4 is a plan view of an outsole made in accordance with the present invention;

Fig. 5 is a diagrammatic view illustrating the manner of forming the,` outsole from a band of fibrous material:

Fig. 6 is a perspective view of a portion of theband of fibrous material, and also illustrates more or less diagrammatically the application of the films or layers of latex to the opposite sides of the band.

Referring now to the drawing in detail, Fig. 1 shows a shoe having an upper I0 and provided with a flat outsole I2 formed of braided or plaited fibrous material such, for example, as jute. The inner marginal edge portions I4 of the upper are secured to the outer marginal edge portions of the upper surface of outsole I2 completely therearound, and a suitable covering such as a sock lining I 6 preferably substantiallycoextensive with the inner surface of the bottom of the shoe is disposed over said marginal edge portions I4 of the upper and over the upper or inner surface of the outsole". The shoe shown in Fig. 3 is oi substantially the same construction as the shoe illustrated in Fig. 1 except that the upper is of the open or strap type for which purpose strap portions Ilia and Illb are provided and their opposite marginal edge portions are secured to the outer marginal edge portions of the outsole in the same manner as indicated at Il in reference to upper I0. As here shown, a sock lining I6 is provided on the upper surface of the outsole. The marginal portions I 4 of upper I0 and the similar portions of the upper of the shoe shown in Fig. 3 are preferably secured to the outsole by latex or the like.

Outsole I2 will now be more fully described first with particular reference to Figs. 2 and 4 to 6. As here shown, said outsole is formed from a rope-like band of fibrous material such as braided or plaited jute or similar brous material or of any other suitable fibrous material, said band being of fiat oval or oblong cross section, a portion of the band indicated by the numeral I8 being illustrated in Fig. 6. By reference to Fig. 4 it will be noted that band I8 is disposed in the outsole in the form of convolutions, several of which as indicated at 20 and 22 are disposed in the forward part of the outsole without extending into the shank or rear part of the outsole. It will also be noted that several ccnvolutions as indicated at 24 and 26 are disposed only in the rear or heel portion of the outsole and do not extend forwardly into the shank or forward part of the outsole. The purpose of this construction is to-provide the forward and rear portions of the outsole in suitable widths so that the complete outsole will have a desirable and proper contour and shape whereby when the upper is attached to said outsole the `shoe will be properly shaped as in shoes which have molded or cut soles or outsoles diecut from leather or other outsole material. It will be observed that band I8, while disposed in the outsole with said forward and rear convolutions, is wound continuously peripherally for the full extent of the outsole. Thus, as here shown,

. one end of the band I8 is indicated at 2'8 while the other end of the band IB is indicated at 3D at a point on the periphery of the outsole.

Said band I8 is coated on both sides thereof with films or layers 32 and 34 of latex but only one side is thus coated for the full length of the band, the other side of the band being uncoated in the portion thereof which forms the outer peripheral convolution 36 of the outsole. Thus, the outer peripheral edge 38 of the outsole is uncoated. The means for applying the latex films or layers to band I8 are constituted by nozzles NI and N2 whichdnay be parts of spray guns.

In accordance with the present method of producing the outsoles from bands I8, said bands are preferably provided in pre-cut lengths in accordance with the sizes of the outsoles to be formed, it being, therefore, understood that the lengths of the bands will vary depending upon the sizes of the outsoles to be produced therefrom. The bands are coated as above described on one side thereof for the full length of the band, the other side being also coated except in thev portion which forms the outermost convolution 36, which is left uncoated. While the latex film or coating is still liquid or semi-liquid said band is wound as described above for disposing the several portions thereof in outsole-defining relation. In Fig. 5 the manner of winding'band I8 is illustrated diagrammatically. Thus, as here shown said band I8 is placed on a table T provided with upstanding pins 40 and 42 in positions corresponding to the forward part of the outsole'and with pins 44 and 4B corresponding to the rear or heel portion of the outsole. It will be understood that companion pins 40, 42, and 44, 46, respectively, are positioned in variable spaced relation depending upon the sizeof the outsole being produced. In winding the band for forming the outsole the inner end 28 thereof is disposed adjacent pin 4|] and portions of the band are wound around the pins 40 and 42 for forming a plurality of convolutions such as the convolutions 2li and 22. Thenthe band is directed lengthwise of the sole through the shank portion thereof and is wound around the companion pins 44 and 46 to form a plurality of convolutions, for example, the convolutions 24. and 26 referred to above in reference to Fig. 4, and thereafter the remaining portions of the band is disposed in convolutions until the entire length of the band is consumed and the outsole formed, the outermost convolution being indicated at 36. Thereafter the outsole thus formed is placed in a suitable mold for shaping the same and forholding lthe convolutions in sole-defining relation until the latex films 32 and 34 dry for securing the adjacent portions of said band firmly to each other.

The outsole as thus described is well adapted to accomplish the related objects of the invention as hereinbefore referred to and it will be noted that the outsole thus produced has a flat upper surface and also a fiat lower surface. I The bands of fibrous material from which the outsole is formed are preferably braided or plaited having a plurality of strands braided together in flat formation. Said bands are oblong in cross section or of fiat oval shape in cross section and are disposed in the outsoles so that the width of the band lies in the direction of the thickness of the outsole. It will be understood that the bands while sufficiently dense to provide a strong outsole are' fiexible whereby the outsole produced therefrom may be flexible. The flexibility of the outsole is assured by uniting the adjacent porer surface of the outsole.

tions of the band to each other by the interposed films or layers 32 and 34 of latex or the like. It will be observed that said films of latex are preferably narrower in widththan the sides of the band to which said films are applied, for the purpose of avoiding coating of the opposite edges of the band or the corresponding upper and lowalso that since the material of bands I8 are of fibrous rope-like material the outsole formed therefrom as h ereinbefore described is relatively porous, thus to keep the wearers feet cool and to provide a comfortable shoe.

While I have shown and described the preferred construction of the outsole, it will be understood that the invention may be embodied and practiced otherwise than las here specifically illustrated or described, and that certain changes in the details ofV construction of the outsole and in the shoe provided therewith may be made without departing from the spirit of the invention. Accordingly, I do not wish to be limited to the invention asherein specifically shown or described except to the extent which may be required by the scope of the appended claims.

Having thus described my invention, what I claim and desire to secure by Letters Patent is:

l. As a new article of manufacture, an outsole ,comprising a fiat body formed of a plurality of convolutions of a band of porous fibrous material and having portions disposed in adjacent side by side relationgand united to each other by interposed layers of adhesive, said band being positioned in the sole so that the width of the band extends in the direction of the thickness of the sole, at least part of the thickness of said band between the opposite sides thereof being free from said adhesive and bein g substantially porous, said layers of adhesive terminating at their lower edges inwardly of the bottom of the sole.

2. A shoe comprising an upper and an outsoleV secured thereto, said outsole comprising a fiat body formed of a. plurality of convolutions of a band of fibrous material and having portions disposed in adjacent side by side relation, said YAband being positioned in the sole so that the width of the band extends in the direction of the thickness of the sole, said portions being united to each other by interposed layers of latex, said band portions between said layers of latex being substantially free from latex and being inherently porous, said layers of latex having their lower edges terminating short of the lower edges of said convolutions of the band of fibrous material in the sole.

3. A shoe comprising an upper and an outsole.

ly porous, said layers of latex having their lower edges terminating short of the lower edges of said convolutions of the band of fibrous material in the sole, the outer surface of the outermost convolution of said rope band defining the peripheral edge of said outsole and being free from.

latex.

JON GREGG.

It will be understood 

